Messi, hat-trick star Higuain spark Argentina rout

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MONTEVIDEO, Oct 8 (AFP): Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi enjoyed a commanding debut as Argentina skipper as his country opened their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4- 1 win over Chile on Friday. Messi scored once while Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain hit a hat-trick to give new coach Alejandro Sabella a triumphant start in his first competitive match in charge. Argentina's Spanish club influence was completed by Angel Di Maria setting up two of the goals for his Real Madrid teammate Higuain. "It was important to get off on the right foot and we did just that," said Higuain. "I liked a lot of what we did tonight. Now we have to keep this up." The 1978 and 1986 world champions, rebuilding after a poor Copa America which saw them exit in the quarter-final, were ahead after eight minutes at Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental where they haven't lost a World Cup game for 18 years. Di Maria slipped in a pass to Higuain who drove the ball high into the net past Claudio Bravo in the Chile goal.